Over 150 years ago, Ernst Leitz became the primary figurehead of a small optical lens company from Wetzlar, Germany. Over the next century and a half, the modest outfit would rise to unimaginable heights, becoming one of the world’s leading manufacturers for optical capture. Leica, as the brand has come to be known, still presides over the photographic medium as one of its most legendary staples — and now, the company has decided to honor Leitz with his very own commemorative camera.
The Leica M Monochrom Leitz Wetzlar Camera is an honest homage to the renowned optical institute, straddling the line between contemporary technologies and the company’s nostalgic, unwavering design principles. As expected, the limited-edition visual upgrade pairs perfectly with Leica’s M Monochrom (Typ 246) platform — a 24-megapixel digital back that boasts a powerful CMOS sensor, an ISO ranging from 0-25,000, and a scratch-resistant, 921,600-pixel LCD for effortless capture. Like its brethren, the specialized Leitz Wetzlar will arrive devoid of color filters, allowing the camera to obtain brilliantly-desaturated photos with 100% more contrast and detail than its colorized counterparts. To honor Leitz and his contribution to the photographic space, a vintage “Leitz Wetzlar” engraving has been added atop the device’s body. Only 150 of these specialized variants are slated for production, so head to Leica’s website to secure one of your own for $7,595.
